Recorder



April 20, 1965 H. MOECK 3,1

RECORDER Filed Aug. 19, 1963 United States Patent 0 3,178,)86 RECORDERHermann Moeclr, Hannoversche Strasse 43a,

Celle, Hannover, Germany Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 33035981 Claimspriority, applicgiltio n (ge'many, Aug. 20, N62, 7 Claims. of. s r-seaThis invention relates to improved recorders and it particularly relatesto recorders which substantially avoid the adverse effects of moisturedeposits in the wind channels thereof.

' Recorders consist, in general, of two separate tubes; the first is abody tube which may be subdivided in larger instruments and whichincludes the necessary tone holes and the second is a headpiece placedon the body tube, The headpiece is constricted on the inside of itsfront end by an inserted core or block in a wind channel, which ends inthe region of the mouth. Recorders are commonly constructed of wood, butmay also be made of ivory, plastic or metal.

Heretofore, all known recorders have the common drawback of being highlysensitive to deposits of breath moisture in the wind channel. If breathmoisture collects in relatively small or relatively large drops on thewalls of the wind channel, a disturbance occurs in the air conduction inthe wind channel and this results in the recorder or flute becominghoarse, thereby impairing the playint quality of the instrument. Theformation of breath moisture deposits should be reckoned with regularlyafter relatively long playing; however, troublesome moisture depositsmay occur even after relatively brief playing, if the breath isespecially humid or if there is cold outside air. Flutes of plastic,ivory or metal are by their nature particularly subject to malfunction,since these materials cannot absorb moisture of any'kind; but evenrecorders made of wood, which can absorb a certain amount of moisture,are not free of the occurrence of breath moisture deposits.

Since a thorough and effective remedy for this undesirable manifestationhas not heretofore been possible, the players of recorders have been toresort to makeshift measures in order to keep their instruments inplaying condition, over as long a period as possible. For example,frequently the wind channel is cleared by vigorously blowing moistureaccumulations out of the channel. Although this procedure may restorethe recorder to its playing capacity for a short while, restoration ofplaying capacity is not of long duration once the recorder has becomehoarse. A less violent, but likewise no more effective method forkeeping the wind channel dry is accomplished by keeping the instrumentwarm on the body during pauses in playing.

Further, in long concerts a player often must use several recorders,since one recorder will ordinarily fail to operate properly for anextended period of time.

Moisture deposits in the wind channel of the recorder not only cause aconstantly recurring momentary hampering of the playing, but, in thelong run, also impair tonal quality of the instrument. As a result ofcontinually alter nating moistening and drying, the wood portions of thewind channel gradually lose their desired smooth surface; thisroughening of the wood is increased by the vigorous blowing of moistureout of the wind channel.

There is thus formed, to varying degrees depending on the kind of woodused, roughenings on the wood surface, similar to that obesrved onwooden portions of washboards. Such roughenings also adversely affectair conduction in the wind channel resulting in the necessity of repairof the instrument, or gradual loss of tonal quality.

aliases Patented Apr. 20, 1965 A further disadvantage of moisturedeposits in the wind channel is that the wood which surrounds the windchannel is constantly working, whereby the interior dimensions of thechannel change and adversely affect wind conduction. Even minor changes,such as 0.02 mm, are noticeable in the tone. Thus, even good and wellmaintained recorders do not improve with age as in the case of violins,but deteriorate and, after a period of time, must be repaired or musteven be replaced by a new instrument.

The above-mentioned disadvantages have had the result, among others,that the recorder is regarded as a highly unreliable musical instrumentfor use in public concerts and on the radio, and is thus used only witha certain amount of reservation. Furthermore, since a great deal ofexperience is required for properly maintaining previously knownrecorders, amateur musicians have a particularly difiicult time inproperly maintaining them; these problems are particularly vexing sincerecorders are otherwise easily handled and operated musicalinstrumerits.

it is therefore an important object of this invention to provide animproved recorder wherein the foregoing disadvantages are substantiallyavoided by providing a stable, absorbent material for lining the windchannel thereof.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide an improvedrecorder which substantially prevents the formation of moisture in itswind channel, thereby maintaining the playing qualities of theinstrument over unusually long periods of playing time.

it is a further object of this invention to provide an improved recorderwhich may be dryed after playing Lie instrument, and not during pausesin playing or in the midst of playing.

it is another object of this invention to provide a recorder which,after long use, does not form surface changes or alternations on thewood portions of a wind channel as a result of moisture build-up.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a mentor havinga replaceable wind channel lining where by any damage to the walls ofthe wind channel is easily remedied.

An added problem encountered with recorders is that production costs arequite high since the parts of the recorder have to be carefully shapedand sized by chipping and shaving procedures. This problem, togetherwith dimensional changes encountered with wood instruments, may beavoided by providing a plastic mouthpiece for the recorder. However, inrecorders heretofore known, moisture formation in the wind channeloccurs to a particularly large degree, and as a result, plasticmouthpieces have been used only for inexpensive recorders. Therefore, itis still a further object of this invention to provide a recorderutilizing a plastic mouthpiece having the advantages of providingeconomical construction and lack of dimensional alternations, whilesubstantially avoiding the undesired formation of moisture within thewind channel of the instrument.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as thespecification proceeds.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head of a recorder,utilizing features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head of a recorder,provided with a plastic mouthpiece;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-lll of FIGURE 2;and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3, showing an alternateembodiment of the invention.

Referring to FEGURE 1, there is shown a wooden recorder with ahead-piece l and a mouth piece 2 mounted (a thereon. The body tube atthe other end of the headpiece 1, provided for carrying the tone holes,is not further shown in the drawings and may be of the usual or desiredconstruction.

The headpiece 1 may also be constructed in a conventional manner and isprovided with a central bore 3. The bore 3 terminates with a socket 4-,into which the body tube can be inserted in the usual manner. A mouth oropening 6 is provided in the wall of the headpiece 1, the side Walls 7of the mouth 6 and the lip or edge 8 being portions of the wall 5 of theheadpiece.

At the opposite end of the bore 3, there is provided the mouthpiece 2,which consists of a core shell 19, made from the headpiece ll, and acore or block 9 which is driven into the headpiece. Between the core 9and the core shell 10 there is formed a wind channel 11, which has arectangular cross section, tapers inwardly, and terminates at a distancein front of the lip edge 3, at the approximate height thereof.

It is seen from FIGURE 1 that both the upper wall and the lower wall ofthe wind channel 11, that is, the surface provided at the core 9 and thesurface provided at the core shell 19, are each provided with a liningl2. This lining is a stable absorbent material. Although the plate 12may be secured with cement, as will be describe below, other methods offastening may be utilized.

The linings 12 substantially avoid the undesirable formation of breathmoisture in the wind channel ill. The lining 12 is preferablyconstructed of a line, porous ceramic material, such as sint-eredaluminum oxide or urglazed porcelain; such material is readily availableand easily provided in the desired shape or form. Generally, the liningis to be made of a material which exhibits a high degree of absorbencyand a high degree of stability. Other suitable materials include fine,porous mineral compositions, such as meerschaum, and fine porousplastics or sintered metals.

Generally, the linings 12 need to be applied only to the upper wall andthe lowe wall of the wind channel Ill. These two walls make up the greatmajority of the total surface area of the wind channel and moistureaccumulations in the region of these wall surfaces are considerably moretroublesome than such accumulations in the region of the relativelynarrow side walls of the wind channel 11. However, as seen in FZGURE 4if desired or necessary, linings it and may be provided on the two sidewalls of the wind channel.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown a recorder having a plasticmouthpiece, wherein only the lower part (b) of the head and themouthpiece (a) are illustrated.

The mouthpiece consists of a main portion 2i), which includes a windchannel 31 and a connecting projection 21. In the region of the mouth22, die wall thickness of the connecting projection 21 is thickened inorder to form the side walls 23, which laterally support the lip 24 withits sharp edge. The main portion Ztl and the connecting projection 2tmay be formed in one piece. However, for reasons of productiontechnology, it is often more desirable to manufacture individual partsand to assemble these, for example, by means of a jig and then cementthe parts together; a further advantage of such an assembly procedure isthat the relationship between the lip and wind channel can be constantlycorrected during assemblage.

The lower part (b) of the head is advantageously made of wood and isprovided with a central bore 27, which terminates at one end in aninsertion socket 25 and at its other end in a connection bore 26. Theinside diameter of the bore 26 is constructed in such a manner that theconnecting projection 21 of the mouthpiece (a) can be in serted on lowerpart (b) with a relatively tight fit. Furthermore, the inside bore 23 ofthe connecting projection 21 is substantially equal in diameter to theinner diameter of the central bore 27 in the lower part (Z whereby, inan assembled condition, the bores 27 and 23 form a continuous channel orpassage. In connecting the parts together, care must be exercised inadjusting the length of the connecting projection 21 inserted into theconnection bore 26. The wall 29 of the lower part (b) is provided in theregion of the connection bore 26, with a recess 30. The recess 30 has,in plan View, for example, the form of a U, open toward the mouthpiece.

The wind channel 31, in the main part 20 of the mouthpiece, terminatesat a distance in front of and at the approximate level of the lip edge24; also, the channel 31 may be covered along its top with a separatecover 32 or the cover may be made integral with the main part 20. Thecross-section of the wind channel 31 may correspond to the cross-sectionof the wind channel 11, already explained in the description of FIGURE1.

Also, the wind channel 31 is lined with plates 33 of porous material,which as already described in connection with FlGURE 1, cover the upperWall and the lower wall of the wind channel, but ordinarily not the sidewalls, although it may be desirable to provide a lining along the sidewalls of the wind channel 31. The plates may be constructed of the samematerial as the plates 32 of FIG- URE l.

The fastening of the plates 33 can be accomplished by means of anadhesive. However, referring to FIGURE 3, there is shown anotherattachment procedure for the plates 33, which avoids the necessity ofusing cement. in the side walls 34' of the wind channel 31, grooves 3-5are milled and are arranged one above the other; the plates are to heslid into the grooves 35 and to provide a secure fit. This type ofattachment i possible without difficulty in plastic mouthpieces, sinceboth the grooves 35 and the plates 33 can be constructed within thenecessary measurement tolerances.

The groove 35, in the region of the upper plate 33, may, if a separatecover 32 is used, be formed at its upper edge by the lower edge of thecover 32. This type of construction is particularly advantageous if notonly the upper wall and the lower wall of the wind channel 31, but alsothe side walls are to be provided with a lining. in such a case, thereis required only a uniformly milled groove having rectangularcross-section, equal to the width of the plates 33. Into this milledgroove, the lower plate 33, two.

side plates having a shape corresponding to the side wall portions 34,and the upper plate 35 are placed, whereupon these parts are fixed inposition by the cover 32.

Experiments with recorders constructed in accordance with the above haveresulted in no impairment of the tone quality, extraordinarily longplaying periods and following playing, sufficient drying of the liningplates occurs, so that the recorder is then available again for moreplaying. Violent blowing of moisture out of the wind channel, or anyother methods heretofore used for maintaining the playability of therecorder, may be thus entirely dispensed with. Internal changes withinthe wind channel have not been observed in recorders constructed inaccordance with the invention, even over relatively long periods oftime. If the plates are to be secured by means of a cement, a cementwhich is not adversely affected by moisture is to be use". Repair of theinstrument is accomplished in a remarkably simple manner if constructedaccording to FIGURE 3; but even in the case of fastening the plates bycement no particular ditiiculties are encountered.

Although it is preferred that the plates 12 and 33 be constructed offinely porous ceramic material, it is also possible to use otherabsorbent materials, having sufficient mechanical strength, a sufiicientstability of form, especially in the moistened state, and a sufficientlysmooth surface.

While in the foregoing there has been a detailed description ofparticular embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understoodthat all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a recorder having a mouthpiece and a Wind channel provided in saidmouthpiece, the improvement comprising a lining for said Wind channel,said lining being an absorbent stable material for absorbing breathmoisture whereby moisture is prevented from adversely affecting theplaying of said recorder.

2. The recorder of claim 1 wherein said lining is a finely porousceramic material.

3. In a recorder having a mouthpiece and a wind channel provided in saidmouthpiece, the improvement comprising plates for lining said windchannel, said plates being an absorbent, stable material for absorbingbreath moisture whereby moisture is prevented from adversely alfectingthe playing of said recorder.

4. The recorder of claim 3 wherein one plate covers the upper wall ofsaid Wind channel and a second plate covers the lower wall of said windchannel.

5. In a recorder having a mouthpiece and a Wind channel provided in saidmouthpiece the improvement comprising a pair of grooves provided in theside walls of said wind channel, and plates mounted in said groove forlining said wind channel, said plates being an absorb- 6 cut, stablematerial for absorbing breath moisture whereby moisture is preventedfrom adversely affecting the playing of said recorder.

6. In a recorder having a mouthpiece and a wind channel provided in saidmouthpiece, the improvement comprising four plates for lining the upperand lower walls and the side walls of said wind channel, said platesbeing a finely absorbent stable material for absorbing breath moisturewhereby moisture is prevented from adversely aifecting the playing ofsaid recorder.

7. The recorder of claim 6 wherein said mouthpiece is plastic and isadapted to receive the lower part of the headpiece of said recorder.

Rererences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,459 7/60Simmonds 84-383 X 3 ,03 0,845 4/ 62 Sherer 84-3 84 FOREIGN PATENTS 582,347 11/46 Great Britain.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A RECORDER HAVING A MOUTHPIECE AND A WIND CHANNEL PROVIDED IN SAIDMOUTHPIECE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A LINING FOR SAID WIND CHANNEL,SAID LINING BEING AN ABSORBENT STABLE MATERIAL FOR ABSORBING BREATHMOISTURE WHEREBY MOISTURE IS PREVENTED FROM ADVERSELY AFFECTING THEPLAYING OF SAID RECORDER.